DarterBlue2

They may well do so. Before the Lincoln loss, I thought they would; after that loss, I am less sure. But I have not written them off; I am just less sure that they are deep caliber material.

If Bartram gets gets to the regional final. It's not a certainty.

Seminole has some good athletes. They were very young two years ago when they took a sophomore laden team to the playoff, losing in the first round to Apopka. Last year they disappointed, but seem to be realizing their promise this year. If Mandarin beats them, then in the first round you will have gotten rid of a major obstacle.

It's a match up between two good Quarterbacks. I think this will be a high scoring game. I am inclined to give the edge to Seminole at home but remember that Mandarin did very well on the road last year.

I think Miami Palmetto should get to the third round. Farther will depend if they are for real or not. As of now, I am not sure. Mandarin has been around for a long time (1990s) and has made the playoffs several times. But in the last 20 years (before last year) they have had trouble getting by the Orlando area teams. Regarding hearing the Dillard crowd from Apopka, unless you all defy the laws of Physics, I don't think it will carry that far. But I realize that would be the preferred match and if you get Central, I wish Dillard well.

Dillard should get to at least the third round, Edgewater to the semis. Regarding Palmetto, are you referring to Miami Palmetto or the one just south of Tampa. I think one gets to at lest the third round, I am unsure about the other. Regarding new blood, Dillard was a state power once, and Edgewater had five very good years in the early part of this century, so it's more the resurrection of former solid teams and not really new blood. But I get where you are coming from. I, too, am tired of seeing the same teams at state all the time, and was happy for Mandarin last year when they won it all.

Yeah, I was not going to mention it, but Pinkos has Apopka winning 8A. I am guessing he has not seen the Darters live or on film this year. Hope he is not jinxing the team.

Bold underlined are my picks.

Dillard is going to win convincingly Friday. You will probably beat FM at home the next week fairly easily, too. The test comes in the Regional finals and beyond.

Some can and some can't. To my eyeballs, Gables did not look like the kind of team that could improve much. Teams that improve are usually young full of sophomores and juniors or have a new staff.

And the result should be the same again. CG just did not seem to have any big play makers and most of their kids seemed very average to me.

When Apopka beat Gables, they (Apopka) were not as good as they are today. That game was never in doubt and CG scored a garbage touchdown in the final minute of the game to make it look closer than it was. CG is not a very good team and if Columbus can't beat them by at least 10, they have no chance in 8A.

I can speak about the only team I saw live, Gables. If they beat Columbus, then the Explorers are pretty poor. Coral Gables was an average team at best back at the start of the season, and their record indicates they did not improve as the season progressed.

How is Bartram's QB? If he has a good to very good arm and some mobility, Bartram's offense would probably be good for 21 against Apopka. That would probably be enough to secure a home victory. But first, got to get through FPC. Somehow, I am not too worried about that game, though.

Apopka will beat Flagler Palm Coast, probably easily, then most likely lose to Bartram Trail at their place. The running game and stifling defense will be too much for FPC.

If Dillard keeps winning it does not matter. Sometimes it is better to be underrated rather than hyped.

It had a big effect. Lincoln is not that good.

38 is not 40. But I don't think Mandarin gives up that much to Seminole.

It is possible they upset the Rockets who have to travel to their house. Several years ago, another Dade team traveled to them and got eliminated in what was considered an upset. If this were a normal year for Central, I would not expect this to happen. But they have been up and down this year and I am not certain what to think of their chances.

Good list. I would be inclined to move Naples into the top 5 at the expense of Palmetto. If it were early season, Columbia would be there as well, but they are not playing very well as we enter the playoffs and need guys to get healthy or need to find some other players to fill the holes on defense.

Dillard has one of those old school, goal posts. At least they did three years ago when I saw a game there.

They do. Have hung out with Wave at several of the state title games over the past 10 years.

He supports the Green Wave, Fort Myers High.

That is news to me and should not have been allowed. The game should either have been played already or it should have been cancelled. Windemere, is a relatively new school participating in the district/playoff system for the first time. They are terrible but so too is Freedom; so who knows what the outcome will be?

That would fix it, but not necessarily make it fair. I guess if you are going to schedule out of state, you just need to do so with your eyes wide open, so as to speak.